What Is The UIGEA?

The UIGEA, properly known by its full name, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, enjoys the dubious distinction of being not only the law that nearly singlehandedly killed the domestic US online gambling industry but also one of the most controversial bills of any kind in recent history. The UIGEA, also called the Leach Act after the bill’s primary sponsor, Rep. Jim Leach of Iowa, was controversial enough in and of itself, being at best a vaguely worded proscription against gambling businesses should they accept payments for a bet placed online. What gives the UIGEA its real infamy is the underhanded way in which it was passed.

Explanation of PASPA

The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, commonly called PASPA, is a prominent federal US sports betting law that makes it illegal for most states to allow commercial or tribal sports betting. Also known as the Bradley Act, PASPA was sold to the states as a means to prevent interstate organized crime, while the public was sold some silly rhetoric about preserving the “integrity” and competitive “fairness” of professional and collegiate athletics. Of course, this morality only went so far. Sin City was exempt.

Sports Betting For Texas Residents

Whether you are a fan of the Cowboys, Texans, Longhorns or any other team in the state, the country, the world, you will find that sports betting in Texas is a possibility for you to really enjoy. What we mean by this is online wagering, a misunderstood industry that is not conducive of a criminal activity in spite of what most people seem to think. The laws are not too much to worry with, as they are not written regarding the player.

We are not too thrilled about the idea that people seem to think they are going to jail, and this is exactly why we have looked into the laws – to educate our readers on the various caveats of online sports betting in the state of Texas.

Is Sports Betting Legal in Texas?

Many players have been asking whether or not there is sports betting legal for Texas residents, and this is not the easiest question to answer. Instead of just having to look through one set of laws, players who wish to determine whether or not wagering is legal in the state of Texas have to look at federal and state laws alike.

The federal laws are one of the more confusing aspects of the industry, while the state laws are almost entirely ambivalent when it comes to betting on sports on the Internet. We have explored each of these important laws, as we want our readers to know exactly what they are getting into with betting online.

Legal NFL Betting In Texas

Everything is bigger in Texas! So it’s no surprise that the state is one of the largest, most active legal NFL betting scenes in the United States. Sure, you could drive 1000 miles to Las Vegas to place your football bets, but it’s a lot more convenient to just pull out your smartphone and visit a legal online sportsbook. With the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC and the Houston Texans in the AFC, the NFL is fully represented in the Lone Star State, and nearly every year there is a meaningful interleague matchup between the two intrastate rivals. So while the players have the Governor’s Cup on the line, you can put some Dead Presidents on the rivalry’s outcome.

Legal College Football Betting

Texas’ amateur football scene is almost as popular as its professional one, with 23 Division I teams in the NCAA. Of these, bettors put the most action on the Texas Longhorns, the Texas A&M Aggies, the Texas Tech Red Raiders, the TCU Horned Frogs, and the Baylor Bears. People looking for legal college football betting in Texas will likely start with these teams for reasons of both familiarity and simplicity. Plus, with so many matchups of national import featuring Texas football teams, there’s plenty of opportunities to make plenty of money. Just make sure to save a little bit extra for the yearly Longhorns vs. Sooners contest, as the Red River Showdown always generates a lot of emotion and hometown spirit – and the often misguided bets that come with them.

Our Recommended Sportsbooks Accepting Texas Residents

In addition to looking into the laws, we had also decided to start looking into the various locations where you can actually gamble. Should you decide that you want to participate in wagering online, you will want to make sure you find only the best sports betting sites accepting Texas residents.

Those who follow our advice will be joining with the most trusted and generous betting sites, with big bonuses, fair odds, easy transactions and a good sense of security. You have nothing to worry about when it comes to our gambling sites.

Texas Sports Betting & Gambling Laws

Federally speaking, there are three primary laws which have anything to do with sports gambling. The Wire Act and the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) are both important when it comes to sports gambling on a whole, but you could also factor in the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) which has limited the number of states that can legitimately authorize a sports betting business, online or otherwise.

The Wire Act makes it illegal for gambling businesses to accept wagers through telecommunications, while the UIGEA has done nothing more than limit the way financial transactions can be made into or out of gambling sites.

Neither of these laws have made it a crime for the player to participate in the games, so you have very little to worry about if you decide to play with the odds online.

Finally we come to the PASPA, which has made it so a sportsbook cannot actually be licensed or regulated by the state of Texas.

As with most other states, Texas has currently no written, specific law based on online gambling. If you want to play the odds found on the Internet, you are essentially protected by Texas’s lack of any specific laws banning online gambling.

With this lack of laws you can freely participate in online sports wagering without having to concern yourself with anything other than how to bet, where to bet, and whether or not you have made the right choice.

Legal Gambling Age For Texas Residents

Since there are no regulations surrounding sports gambling in the state of Texas, the age limit for sports betting on the Internet essentially defaults to the standard 21 year requirement. If you are under the age of 21, you face the risk of having your money confiscated, your account closed, and being banned from the sports betting site you have joined.

Since there are only a few good sportsbooks worth using, you do not want to risk having yourself ejected without the possibility of rejoining, so please wait until you are 21.

Land Based Gambling In Texas

Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino

Under the terms of the PASPA, there is no land based sportsbook in the state of Texas. The state government cannot authorize a sportsbook, not even for a $5 bet on the Dallas Cowboys as PASPA is a very limiting law in terms of what can be authorized.

FAQ About Online Sports Betting In Texas

1) Where are the federal gambling posted for me to read?

You will have to search for each law individually.

2) What about the laws written about gambling by the Texas government?

If you visit http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/ you can search for the laws directly.

3) Is Bovada legal in the state of Texas?

If you want to bet on sports with Bovada, you do not have to worry about any criminal complications.

4) Are there any caveats to depositing with a credit card?

Your credit card deposits may fail due to the UIGEA, but you should be able to get your card to work as some sportsbooks have a 100% guarantee deposit rate.

5) How many sportsbooks can I join from this list?

You can have only one account per sportsbook. Opening any additional accounts will result in having one or all of them closed.

6) How fast can I receive my winnings from these sports wagering sites?

You are generally able to have your money shipped back to you in under 14 days, but this is dependent on the betting site you choose.

7) How secure are these sports betting sites?

We have found that, between secure databases and encrypted connections, these betting sites we have listed are totally free of theft, financial or identity.

8) Has a Texas bettor ever been arrested for gambling on sports over the Internet?

No, and there never will be under the current laws in place.

9) Who authorizes and regulates the betting sites to be found here?

There are various gambling authorities that regulate these sites, including the government Costa Rica, the United Kingdom, and even Canada.

10) What about taxes? Must they be paid on the gambling winnings I earn from these online sportsbooks?

Yes, you have to pay taxes on all money you earn regardless of the source. We do not recommend tax evasion.